Patient characteristics and disease activity at the initiation of biological treatment
| Year | 2000–01 | 2002 | 2003 | p Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Values are medians with 25th and 75th centiles in parentheses (continuous variables). | ||||
| p Values (Kruskal-Wallis) compare the three cohorts based on year of treatment. *p Values calculated with χ2 test. | ||||
| DMARDs, disease modifying antirheumatic drugs; DAS28, Disease Activity Score based on 28 joint count and CRP12; TJC, tender joint count of 28 joints; SJC, swollen joint count of 28 joints; mHAQ, modified Health Assessment Questionnaire Score; CRP, C reactive protein. | ||||
| Patients | ||||
| DK | 323 | 207 | 293 | 323 |
| N | 86 | 91 | 194 | |
| Women (%) | ||||
| DK | 69.8 | 71.1 | 74.8 | 0.19* |
| N | 73.6 | 72.5 | 77.2 | 0.61* |
| Age (years) | ||||
| DK | 58.0 (48.0–65.0) | 56.0 (47.0–63.0) | 56.0 (45.0–64.0) | 0.08 |
| N | 53.2 (46.7–62.5) | 52.6 (45.3–59.7) | 52.3 (40.2–59.3) | 0.25 |
| Disease duration (years) | ||||
| DK | 14.0 (8.0–20.0) | 10.0 (6.0–19.0) | 10.0 (5.0–18.0) | <0.001 |
| N | 11 (5.0–17.0) | 8.2 (5.0–15.0) | 8.8 (4.4–14.3) | 0.18 |
| No of previous DMARDs | ||||
| DK | 5.0 (3.0–6.0) | 4.0 (3.0–5.0) | 3.0 (2.0–5.0) | <0.001 |
| N | 5.0 (3.0–7.0) | 4.0 (3.0–6.0) | 3.0 (2.0–5.0) | <0.001 |
| DAS28 (0–10) | ||||
| DK | 5.8 (4.7–6.6) | 5.5 (4.7–6.2) | 5.2 (4.3–6.0) | <0.001 |
| N | 6.0 (5.4–6.8) | 6.0 (5.0–6.8) | 5.6 (5.0–6.3) | 0.007 |
| TJC (0–28) | ||||
| DK | 12.0 (6.0–19.0) | 10.0 (4.0–16.0) | 9.0 (4.0–15.0) | 0.001 |
| N | 11.0 (6.0–19.0) | 10.0 (5.0–15.0) | 7.0 (4.0–14.0) | 0.004 |
| SJC (0–28) | ||||
| DK | 10.0 (6.0–16.0) | 9.0 (5.0–14.0) | 8.0 (4.0–12.0) | <0.001 |
| N | 10.0 (7.0–15.0) | 10.0 (5.0–13.0) | 8.0 (4.0–13.0) | 0.01 |
| Patient’s pain score (0–100) | ||||
| DK | 65.0 (42.0–78.0) | 64.5 (50.0–77.5) | 61.0 (38.0–75.0) | 0.11 |
| N | 60.5 (46.3–77.8) | 65.0 (43.0–74.5) | 51.0 (34.0–71.0) | 0.02 |
| Patient’s global health score (0–100) | ||||
| DK | 64.0 (44.0–81.0) | 66.0 (51.0–81.5) | 64.5 (43.0–79.0) | 0.28 |
| N | 67.0 (51.3–81.0) | 68.0 (42.5–82.0) | 60.0 (41.0–76.8) | 0.04 |
| Doctor’s overall assessment (0–100) | ||||
| DK | 59.5 (34.0–75.0) | 61.5 (37.0–75.0) | 50.0 (30.0–68.0) | <0.001 |
| N | 62.5 (50.0–71.8) | 55.0 (38.0–67.0) | 48.0 (34.0–60.0) | <0.001 |
| mHAQ (1–4) | ||||
| DK | 1.9 (1.5–2.4) | 2.0 (1.5–2.3) | 1.9 (1.5–2.2) | 0.27 |
| N | 2.0 (1.6–2.5) | 2.0 (1.6–2.4) | 1.9 (1.5–2.1) | 0.03 |
| Serum CRP (mg/l) | ||||
| DK | 26.2 (10.0–56.5) | 26.4 (12.0–57.7) | 17.5 (8.0–46.0) | 0.006 |
| N | 27.0 (12.0–43.0) | 27.5 (9.3–59.5) | 22.0 (10.0–49.0) | 0.52 |
| Steroid dosage (mg) | ||||
| DK | 7.5 (0.0–10.0) | 5.0 (0.0–10.0) | 2.5 (0.0–7.5) | <0.001 |
| N | 5 (0.0–10.0) | 2.5 (0.0–8.8) | 2.5 (0.0–7.5) | 0.005 |